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Posted for CavittP@aol.com:
Dom:
Greetings from San Diego, CA!
I have a L-235/320 that I've put on over 1,000 hours in 6 years. It's L-235 kit number 077 with a Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 HP engine with Aymar-Demuth fixed pitch prop. Flies great! Crappy brakes! Needs a constant speed prop... My empty weight is 1033# with a max gross weight of 1650#. 2-years of building in my garage at home, then 2 years of building in a hangar at my airport...
No problems with oil cooling using a 13-vane oil cooler...
The airport I'm based at is 400' MSL with a 3800' long runway. Temperatures go up to 38 degrees C, but yearly average is somewhere around 20 C. No problem with performance for takeoff or landing at that field elevation. Takeoff run is about 1,000' most of the time and I can usually be to 50' AGL by 1,500' down the runway, and landing distance runs around 1,500' using light to moderate braking. I take it easy on brakes with the result of tires and brakes lasting longer than most. I have the standard little wheels - not the Outback gear which would be an improvement.
However, I fly regularly to Ryan Field in Tucson, AZ. Field elevation 2,500 MSL and has a 5500' long runway and temps go as high as 42 C. On a hot day yields about a 2,500' takeoff run with lots of pucker factor on the climb -- about 5,500' distance to 50' AGL (needs a constant-speed prop). Landing performance is okay -- on a hot day I use about half the runway using light braking.
I also occasionally operate in and out of Flagstaff, AZ which is 7,000' MSL and has a 7,000' long runway. Talk about "pucker factor!" I pick and choose the days I go there -- never on a hot day... Double the numbers that I gave for Tucson... Here's where I REALLY need a constant speed prop!
Bottom line (for me): I never take take my plane into a field where I wouldn't take a Cessna Citation...
P-Aire 320 s/n 001 N320PL
Hope that info helps...
Of course , if you're going to be using a constant speed prop, performance will improve dramatically. The 2-seater Lancairs that I've flown with a constant speed prop have remarkably better takeoff, climb and landing performance.
Cheers!
Pete Cavitt - N320PL
619-701-0784
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